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Stxsfec-h of Ju.Jae\BLL-rnetC of 



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vincj a b^ic 



? Hist 



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7 



0^ the Lift of VVillia-m hle^ry 
HarriboTi. 18^9, 




Class 

Book— 



:hxi 



SPEECH 



JUDGE BURNET 



T^ rf^, rj'y 



O I i I O , 



RIG NATIONAL CONVENTION, 



A BRIEF HISTORY 



T II E LIFE 



GEN. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 



B 



ornel. oscop. 



*f >Va" 



WASHINGTON: 

IRlNrilD AT THE AIADISOMAN OFFICE. 
1839. 



i — ? r; 



SPEECH. 



MR. PRESIDENT: 

Labouring imJcr ihe iiifliieiices of a severe cold, wliich afTects both my voicr 
and head, it will not be apprehended that I ^hall detain the Convention by a ]onj^ 
address. But, sir, indisposed as 1 am, I must add mv approving voice to the jus't 
and merited plaudits which have been pronounced from everv part of this assem- 
bly, on the distinguished son of the patriotic State of Kentucky. In admiration of 
his talents, virtues, and public services, no man on this floor goes further than I 
do ; nor does any one repeat them with more pleasure and pride. They are the 
property of the nation, and we all claim them as tenants in conmion. Lon"- and 
ardently have 1 desired to see him in the Presidential Chair, and many aliattle 
have I fought for the accomplishment of that desire. But few men on this floor 
bear more of the scars of political warfare, received in his defence, than I do- 
nor is there one more willing to have them increased in future conflicts, should it 
a^?in become necessary to vindicate his character or his cause. General HAR- 
RISON entertains towards him the same feelings, and has long ardently desired 
to see him at the head of the nation ; nor would he have been a candidate in 1836 
had it not been distinctly announced that Mr. Clav had withdrawn from the 
canvass. 

The State of Ohio has witnessed the honors which have been paid to that dis- 
tinguished citizen, in every part of the Union, with great delight, and has been 
among the first to acknowledge, or, more properly speaking, to assert and vindicate 
their justice ; and here, in the presence of this august assembly, tec endorse them 
It IS, no doubt, expected, sir, that the delegation of Ohio will say somethin<r on 
this occasion in commendation of their favorite son, on whom this Convention^lias 
just bestowed one among the highest honors to which the ambition of man can aspire 
a unanimous nomination for the first office in the gift of a free and powerful na- 
tion. I hope, sir, I shall not be charged with vanity when I say that I have 
been his intimate companion and friend for more than forty years. The free and 
continued intercourse that has existed between us for so long a period, must neces- 
sarily enable me to speak witn some confidence as to his character, acquirements 
and course of life. ' 

He is a native of the "Old Dominion," and is an honor to the State which 
gave him birth. He is a son of Governor Harrison, of Virginia, who was a pa- 
triot of the Revolution, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, proclaim- 
ed by the Continental Congress in 1770— by which solemn act he pledged " his 
iile, his fortune, and his sacred honor," to maintain that declaration, and ho nobly 
redeemed his pledge. His son, of whom I now speak, inherited from his Maker 
an ardent, active, penetrating mind— far, very far, above mediocrity. 'I'hat mind 
Jias been improved by a classical education, under the best instructors of that day • 
It has been stored with vahmblp and useful knowledge, literary, scientific, and 
historical, loucan scarcely name an important subject on w'hich he haL not 
read and reflected, and on which he cannot write and converse with facility and 
clearless. He is a good belles lettres scholar, a ready, correct, and stron^ writer 
and must be ranked, wherever he is known, in the class of men who a're most 
distinguished lor improved and cultivated intellect. In the finer qualities of the 
heart, no man can justly claim a preference. To borrow the strong, expressive 
language ol my friend, Governor Mctcalf, " Harrison has an an expanded heart 
ana it is always tn the nnhl place:' Though brave as Napoleon, he h;;s much of 
the milk of human kindness. Benevolence, and a desire to better the condition of 



the whole human fannly, predominate in his soul, and arc constantly forcing them- 
selves into action. In dress, he is plain and unostentatious — in maniK^rs, affdble 
;ind unassuming. When seen enj;fa2;ed on his farm, which is his daily employ- 
ment, and necessarily followed to obt liti his daily bread, you cannot distinguish 
liim, bv the appearance of his dress, from any of his brother farmers who are la- 
boring in the vicinity. His house is open to all, and its hospitalities free for all, 
whether high or lou-, rich or poor. It is not exaggeration when I say, believe 
tne, sir, it is not poetry or (iction, when I .say, if he had but one dollar, he would 
not, because he could not, refuse to divide it with a friend in distress. 

In politics, he has always been a Democratic Republican of the school of 
Washington, JefTorson, and Madison ; he detests the agrarian, iafidel principles 
which are gaining power and influence at the present day, and resist.-; the doctrine 
that the. spoils hdung to the victors, and that an executive or ministerial ofilcer of 
government may assume the responsibility of construing the Constitution and 
Laws of the country for selllsh or party purposes. 

These statements, sir, are not surmises, nor are they taken on trust — they are 
gatliered from his long life of civil and military service, and have been seen by ali 
who have observed him, either at the head of the army — in the gubernatorial 
chair — in the halls of legislation, or in a diplomatic station. 

In 1791, this distinguished son of the venerable signer of the Declaration of 
Independence was engaged in the study of medicine, under the care of Dr. Rush, 
<;f Philadelphia. Hearing of the murders committed by the lEidians, on the de- 
fenceless iiiliai)itauts of the Northwestern frontier, he resolved to go to their relief. 
.It his request, his guardian and friend, Robert Morris, of revolutionary memory, 
obtaincfl for him from President Washington, an ensigncy in the army of the U. S. 
With this parchment in his pocket he hastened Jo Cincinnati, but did not reach it 
till St. Clair hud marched into the Indian country ; by which Providentinl event 
he was not on the bloody field where so many of his fellow ofhcers and soldiers 
found a premature grave. The first tour of military duty he performed, was in the 
.succeeding winter, when he marched through the snow on foot at the head of his 
detachment, vvith his knapsack upon his baci^ to the fatal battle field to int r the 
hones of the slain. This was his first military service. We find him afterwards 
in 1774 an Aid-de-cnn^p of the gallant Wayne, distinguishing iiimself in the battle 
of the Rapids of the Maumee, where, for his bravery and good conduct, he re- 
ceived the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief, communicated to the army in gene- 
ral orders. In 1795 he was engaged in making the treaty of Grenville, under the 
.superintendence of Gen. Wayne, which terminated the Indian war. He was soon 
after appointed Commandant of Fort Washington and had the management of the 
public property, chiefly collected at that post. 

Early in 179S. the object being accomplislied, which prompted him to join the 
army he resigned his commission and removed to his farm. The next military 
enterprise in which we find hiui engaged, was the exjiedition (o Tippecanoe. The 
treaty which ho had then recently made with t!ie Indian tribes hod b(>en violated. 
Tecumseh, adaiitted by all, to be tiie most intrepid warrior, and the fnost talented 
chief of the age. had prevailed on the tribes who were parties to that treaty, to re- 
fuse its execution, anil fi>r the pur|)ose of insuring the .success of his project, was 
attempting to form a union among all the tribes from the lakes to the gulf of 
.^Toxico. He h -d visilcMl the Northern tribes and had secured their co-operation, 
and was negotiating with tliose of the South for the san>e purpo.««e. llarrison. 
who was uware of his plan, and lint he was actually eagaged in the successful v\c- 
«:utio[i of it, was n<it idle. He commimicalcd (he facts to Mr. Madison, .-(aling what 
would 1)0 the cons«;(pieiice of [>crmitling it !<> be completed. 'I he President 
promj)tly placed the 4th regiment under the <'onwnand of Harrison, then (Jovernor 
of lM(Ji:inft; ordered bun to raise four hundred volunteers, and proceed to the 
Itidian eountrv. The order was ho promptly obeyed, that our gallant little army 
iWHOO tui;n arrived at Tippecanoe before Tecuuis'h Ir.id relumed from the South. 
When Harrison reached tho settlement, twelve hundred warriors had ulrcady as- 



\ 



pomhlerl. lie sent for the Chiefs ; tlioy came to his camp ; ho told thetn their 
Great Fathtjr h:>(l not sent hiin to liiiht, Imt tD settle their cortiphlnts amicahly ; 
and he invited them to nieet him in council ; they nromised to do so the next day, 
and then returned to their vilhige. As soon as they were gone, he told his officers 
he kiiew from their la iii;(i;igf! and hehaviour that ths-y intended to attack iiim before 
mornin:^. Conti lent thai this was the council they meditated, he encamped his 
army in the order of hatlle, and directed his men to lie down with their clothes on, 
and ihoir arms at their sides. His predictions soon became history: an hour or 
two bsiure day, in a dark fojrgry night, the attack was made with f^roat fury. The 
con'lict lasted nearly t^vo h )urs, and until day-light enabled him to see the position 
of th.3 In bans, when a vig )rous charge was ordered which terminated in their de- 
feat and dispersion. The army then marched to the village and destroyed it. Wo 
may safely affirm that this w,is the first i istance in which American troops have 
sustained themsehes agaiast a superior force of Indians in a night attack of two 
hours continuance. As a fruit of this victory, the treaty was preserved and the peace 
and safety of the frontier secured. It was from this battle, so important to the 
Governaient and people of Indiana, and so brilliaat in the mode of its achieveirient, 
again-^t a desperate ioc, that (ieaeral Harrison derived the appellation of the "Hero 
of 'i'ippecanoe." 

Th3 savages on th:; frontier of Iiidi ina, having bc^n thus defeated and scattered, 
and C- jvernor FI irrison hearing that they were taking scalp-* and breaking up the 
settleMients on the fri)ntier of Ohio, resigned his comu)ission as Govern(jr, and su- 
perintendant of Indian affairs, together with their emoluments, repaired to Cincia- 
nati, and volunteered in our defence. In a few months he succeeded in scattering- 
the savages on our borders ; a [)art of them he drove to the lakes, and the residue 
he compelled to remove to a place of salety within our settlements. By this ope- 
ration, the settlers on oar frontier were relieved from danger and hundreds who 
had a uj to the deassr settlements of the State for protection, returned to their im- 
provements and occuf)ied them in safety. A person who has not an accurate 
knowledge of the condition of the Northwestern portio ■. of Ohio, at the time of the 
late war, w \er\ it was an unbroken wilderness, without inhabitants, other thin al)o- 
rigines — without roads, bridges, ferries, or improvements of any kind, cannot furm 
an idea of the diffi ;ulties General Harrison encountered in feeding, sustaining and 
keeping together his army. '! he difficulties and perplexities which beset him dur- 
ing ai! his campaigns are known to but few, and cannot be justly a[)preciated by 
any ; yet by unceasing activity and by the efforvs of his powerful mind, he over- 
came them all. But it is impossible to dwell on minutiae — a volume would not 
com lin the half of surh a detail. Pressed down by all these difficulties he kept the 
field ; he never despaired for a moment; a '.d such was the confidence reposed in 
his bravery and skill, by both officers and soldiers, t!iat tlieir spirits never flag>j;ed 
— thoir hopes never .sunk. It is not generally known that the fleet built at Krie, 
by which the command of the Likes was obtairied was a project recommended by 
General Harrison, and that it was adopted by Mr. Madison, in consequence i f his 
unbnundcd confidence in the prudence and sound judijuient of him who proposed 
it. Before the period of which lam now speaking, Geneial Harris(m had been 
appointed a IMajor General in the militia of Kentucivy, by a law of that State, and 
had !)ecn appointed a Major General in the army of the United States, by Mr. 
Madison. 

Passing over a multitude of affairs of smaller moment, let me point vour atten- 
tion to the memorable seige of I'ort Meigs: that work of defence consisting of a 
mud embardvment and an encio-ure of piquets, was defended Iriumpli.inlly and 
succes.sfully by about a Ihonsmul mai for many days, (if I mistake not, seven or 
eight,) against the attack of Proctor, who comininded an army of Briiish and In- 
dians, ai least four times t/ifi nnnihtr of the beseiged, which was furnished with all 
the m iterial necessary for the occasion. Such was the skill, the bravery, and iho 
indefatigi'ole efforts of Geneial Harrison — such was the success of the repeated 
sallies he made, that he compelled the enemy to abandon the siege in despair. It 



ss worthy of remark, that on the second day of the attack, Proctor sent an ofi'icer 
with a Hag, to demand the surrender of the post. The grounds of this demand 
were, that the American force was too weak to defend the works, against the over- 
whehning force of the besiegers, and that General Proctor was anxious to save the 
effusion of blood. The intrepid Harrison promptly replied : " If General Proc- 
tor knows the usages of war, as 1 am bound to believe he does, he must either 
have considered me ignorant of them, or he must have intended an insult. It was 
his duty to make the deinand before he commenced firing on the works. But, sir, 
said he, go back and tell your General that I know my own force, and his, and thai 
I shall defend the works to the last extremity. Tell him farther, that if he ever 
possesses the Fort, he shall obtain it in away that loill give him more honor in thi 
estimation of his Government than he could derive from a thousand surrenders.''' — 
Another incident is also worthy of notice : After the enemy had retired, a number 
of the Indians who had left them came into the fort and stated, that a contract had 
been entered into between Proctor and Tecuinseh, that as soon as the fort surren- 
dered, which they considered inevitable, Harrison should be given up tothe In- 
dians, to be disposed of as they might see proper. Harrison replied : " Then Ge- 
neral Proctor can be n( ither a soldier nor a man. But if it shall ever be his fate 
to surrender to me, his life shall be protected, but I will dress him in a petticoa:, 
and deliver him over to the squaws, as being unworthy to associate with men." — 
On this story, sir, was founded an infamous slander on General Harrison, and a 
base insult to the ladies of Chilicothe, fabricated by a person whose naine I will 
not stoop to mention, and published by the administration press. 

It was not long alter the successful defence of thi^ Fort, that our honored nomi- 
nee led his victorious army into Fort Maiden, recaptured Detroit and the Terri- 
tory surrendered by the unfortunate Hull, and pursuing the enemy to the Thames, 
subdued the united forces of Proctor and Tecumseh, and captured the entire 
British army ! 

The war having been thus gloriously terminated in his own district, Hariison 
repaired to Eric and tendered his services to the army operating in that quarter. 
Unfortunately, the Secretary of War was there, who felt some private griefs unre- 
dressed, and was moreover envious of the laurels which Gen. Harrison had so 
dearly, but justly won, being unwilling to see another added to the wreath, I'.e or- 
dered him to repair to Ohio, where he had no further duty to perform, having al- 
ready brought the war to a close in that quarter. The order was obeyed. He 
returned to his family and immediately resigned his commission, declaring that he 
could not honestly eat the bread of the Government when he was denied the 
privilege of rendering services in return. Here, sir, terminated forever the bril- 
liant nulitary career of a hero who had won many victories, but who never lost a 
battle. 

Now, sir, let us look at this distinguished man in a political and private life. — 
Time forbids to do more than name the stations he has filled. When he resigned 
his first commission, which was given him by the " Father of his Country," he 
was appointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. The Governor being 
then absent, he was ex-nfficio acting Governor, and vested with all the Executive 
power of the Territory, which he executed with great prudence, and to the ap- 
probationof the Govermnent and people. In 1799, the 'J'erritorial liCgi^lature, (my- 
sel( l)eing one of them,) appointed him llie delegate to represent the Territory in 
the Congress of the United Stales. His election had been opposed by a nume- 
rous class of men who had purchased land from his father-in law, and had settled 
on and improved it. They had failed to obtain a title i'rom the vendor, and were 
at the mercy of Congress, lial)le to be dispossessed at any moment. They wished 
to obtain pre-emption rights and other indulgcncies. It was the interest and tho 
anxious desire of the vendor to deieal their object. On this account they en- 
tn-ated the Legislature not to appoint Mr. Harrison, believing that he woidd bo 
gorerned by the views of his father-in-law, and oppose their claims. He was, 



notwithstanding, chosen, and to the surprise of those men, he volunteered in their 
cause, and, though against his own uhimate interest, he procured ibr iheni the boon 
they were so anxious to obtain. 

At the same session he ])rociired the passing of an act requiring the public lands 
to be surveyed and sold in small tracts. Under tiie former law, it was impossible 
for a poor man to become a purchaser from Government — he was compelled to 
purchase from the speculator at an advanced price. But by the amendment every 
poor man in the nation, if industrious, might become an independent, freeholder; 
and, sir, it is public history, that thousands of thousands //««e I)ecome so, and 
every emigrant who now removes to the west from any part of the Union, has the 
same privilege. The benefit which has been derived by the industrious poor, 
from that successful effort of General Harrison, is beyond the power of num[)ers 
to compute. Having accomplished these important, objects in Congress, he re- 
signed his seat and was appomted Governor of Indiana. He administered that 
government twelve years, with such ability, benignity, and success, that all that 
portion of its present population, who resided there, under his administration, look 
up to him as the political father of their State. We next find him representing 
the people in the Legislature of Ohio — then in the House of Representatives of 
ciie United States — afterwards in the Senate of the United States — and lastly we 
see him the Ambassador of his Government at the Court of the haughty Bolivar. 
In all these stations he has received from the goverimient and the people, the 
plaudit of 'well done good and faithful servant' — and it may be added, this has 
been his only reward. 

Suffer me to say here, that it is the settled and publicly expressed opinion of 
General Harrison, that no man, however great, wise and good, should be re- 
elected President of these United States. To the prevalence of the opposite 
opinion he ascribes most of the corruption and strife which have agitated and dis- 
graced the nation — and I add, that if elected, he will enter on the duties of the 
office, having no griefs to avenge, and no obligations to fulfd, in relation to indi- 
viduals. 

And now, sir, what more can I add — I have attempted to throw a ray of light 
on the almost forgotten life of one of the most useful, virtuous and patriotic 
citizens our country has ever produced. From an intimate and confidential ac- 
quaintance with him, of more than forty years standing, I can speak ex callicdra. 
The single fact, that after he has held all these offices with abundant opportunities 
of accumulating wealth, at the expense of his country, he has retired to private 
life, comparatively poor, is enough to place him on a level with Aristides. 

Had he nothing more to complain of but the blighting negligence of his own 
government, which has compelled him, Cincinnatusdike, to labor at the plough 
for the bread which feeds his fam.ly, it might be endured. But, sir, it is not so : 
malice has assailed his character, and thousands who know him not, have inno- 
cently yielded to it their assent. An attempt to refute charges against his bravery, 
would be as insulting to him as it would be ridicidons in the eyes of the world. 
Insinuations have been made injurious to his moral character ; those who know 
him personally, smile at the folly of such efforts ; and let me say to all others, 
that a man of purer moral character docs not it\habit our land. When every thing 
else tails, they proclaim at the top of their voices that he is an imhicile old man. 
Sir, I had the pleasure of taking him by the hand the morning 1 left home ; 
.scarcely a week passes in v/hich I do not see and converse with him, and let me 
assure you and this assembly, and the American people, that his mind is as vigor- 
ous, as active, and as discriminating as it was in the ineridiati of his dnys ; that 
he cnjoijs fine health, and all the bodily vigor and activity which belong to a man of 
sixty five or sixty-six. 

Now, sir, let me attempt to give utterance to the ecstacy of joy and delight which 
the transactions of this day have produced on my own mind. In common with 



all my associates in this imposing assembly, I feel that our country is redeemed ^^ 
and saved — the sounds ol unity and concord which biriUe the ear from everv 
seat in this sacred temple — the united declaraiion of eniire acquiescenie in the 
result of our deliberations — the enihnsiasiic pledges, tendered by every nien;ber 
of this august body, to devote himself, heart ai»d hand, to sustain ihe di.stinginshed 
individuals we are about to present to the people as the men of our unanin.ous^ 
choice — the expression of joy on the faces of so many aged and venerable 
})atriols, who have finished their course in public life — who have long since 
crossed the meridian — are on their downward course, and will soon pa^s the 
horizon, to he seen here no more ; 1 say, sir, to hear such men testify their feel- 
ings of approbation, pledge their zealous eilorts to advance the cause and prochiirn 
their confidence in its triumphant success, produces sensations which cannoi be 
described. To hear ihe shouts of approbation — the enthusiastic promises oi ex- 
ertion, and the confident predictions of victory, from the young and vigoious }, op- 
tion of this body, is enougli to inspire the most conhrmed stoic. In short the en- 
lire manifestations of this day, so exciting, so cheering, have produced a geiierj^ 
ecstacy of delight, of which those who have not witnessed the scene, and fc^it the 
threatened danger ol' disagreement in this body, as we have done, can foriii no 
conception. P'or one, I must say, that although I am near the terminaticm oi tlu; 
prophetic number of days allotted for the life of man, 1 have never, in that long 
period, witness(;d such an imposing spectacle. 1 am almost ready to repeat artd 
apply to myself the pious exclamation of the good old Simeon. 

Mr. Pre^ident — Is not this enough for one day? The great object which 
brought us l»ere from every part of the Union, is accomplished. That object was 
to produce unity and harmony of action in the great struggle we are on the eve of 
commencing ; a struggle to save the liberty, the morals and the happiness of the 
people, and to rescue the constitution froni the hands of the profligate men, under 
whose management it is sinking to decay. This object, 1 repeat, has beeri 
gained. It is the opinion of every American, whose principles have not been 
debased by the corru[)t and corrupting influence of the national administration, 
that an eflbrt should be made to save the nation ; that efiort has now been niiidt, 
and successfully made, 'i'lie unity and zeal it has produced, have accomplished 
half the victory already, and will consummate it hereafter. It is now nianiiehi 
that we came here, deeply impressed with the importance of the (tbject at stake, 
which is nothing less than the jjerpetuiiy of the glorious constitution bequeathed 
by our fathers We, all know, sir, that in such a strug-gle, in a contest lor such a 
prize, we cannot aflbrd to dispute and wrangle about minor matters; and we have 
therefore ofliered up our preferences on the altar of patriotism. This Convention 
has carried out its professions, that it seeks the prosperity and hap[)iness of the. 
whole Union. :ind that it contends for principlns instead of men. Our choice has 
not been re.strictt-d for want of material ; among the Whigs and Conservatives 
of the country there are a thousand enlightened patiiots, honest, capable and faith- 
ful, into whoso hands we may safely commit the Executive Government of ih<i 
country. From such men we have made our selection, and now give to the na- 
tion, a united, unbroken pledge to support it. We (;aiiiiol therefore de.-pair of 
j)ermii our hopes to sink. 'J'here is talent and virtue enough in the nation to save 
it. After what we have accomplished, nothing is wanted but imily, energy and 
confiilenco ; let these be put in re(]uisitiQn, and victory will perch ujKni our stand- 
ard, the eonsiiiiition will be saved, the |)nriiy of it*! admiiiistraiion restored, and 
wr will iransmit it to our diildren as we leceived it from our laiheis. I say we 
vUl. b(!caiise every gemlmnan on this floor, old and young, stands pledged to re- 
deem the promise. l)(^|ieiid on it, sir, there is a con crvative principle in the 
gre;it mass of liie American people, which inav l)e called into successful action by 
\inited cn'ori ; and I ;im now fully persuaded ibit victory will crown our eflbrts, 
siiHO vvo hive ibis d.tv milurU! I before the nation, the llni >n ibig, inscrib.^d \> iiU 
the motto of ilie lion .Vlr. Wise, of Virginia, "union for the sake of the Uni.':i." 



